The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has planned to provide financial assistance to poor people in 61 upazilas to lift them out of poverty.

“51% of the population lives below the poverty line in 61 upazilas. We are taking a program to provide food and livelihood assistance to bring people out of poverty,” Disaster and Relief Management Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, told BSS.

During the first 100 days of the interim government, the ministry prioritized poverty reduction at the grassroots level, considering poverty a disaster.

The adviser said each family will receive Taka 1000 for food and Taka 2000 for livelihood support under the programme.

“The program will be implemented on a pilot basis in 61 upazilas where 50% of the people live below the poverty line,” he said.

Out of the 61 upazis, the largest number of 24 are in Rangpur Division, 14 in three hilly districts of Chattogram Hill Tracts under Chattogram Division, 10 upazis in Kishoreganj District under Dhaka Division, five upazis in Khulna Division, seven in Mymensingh Division and one in Barishal Division.

In addition, the ministry will implement the program on a pilot basis in 14 other upazilas where 47% of the people suffer from malnutrition.

Of the 14 upazilas, five are in Sylhet division, four in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi and one each in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Barishal.

Faruk E Azam said he urges donor organizations including NGOs to get involved in the program to help alleviate poverty.

About the flood relief and rehabilitation program in various districts of the country in August and September, he said that the government has made its best efforts to support the flood victims by providing the relief goods, medicine and medical assistance needed during the flood period.

Now, the ministry is running a rehabilitation program for flood victims, he added.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated Taka 4.75 million (cash) and 37,500 sacks or bags of dry food for flood victims in 43 districts, including the flood-affected ones of the country, between August 6 – October 29, according to the ministry.

In addition, the ministry allocated 8,900 metric tons of rice, Taka 2.90 million for baby food and Taka 2.90 million for the purchase of fodder as part of the relief efforts during the period.

He said that the ministry has allocated 1800 packages of corrugated iron (CI) sheets and 54 lakh Taka for the repair of flood damaged houses.

Faruk E Azam said coordinated cooperation between public-private organizations, NGOs, microcredit providers and volunteers is needed to deal with natural disasters.

He said that the young students of the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement, volunteers, local people and public and private organizations responded remarkably well to help the flood-affected areas in August.

The councilor said measures are underway to restore normal life and livelihoods in the flood-affected areas.

He said the ministry was working to identify the causes of prolonged waterlogging in low-lying areas to take action accordingly.